Cancellation policy

A cancellation policy defines what happens when a guest cancels — how far in advance they must give notice to receive a refund, what fee or forfeit applies if they cancel late, and how deposits and prepayments are treated. Policies range from fully flexible, where the guest can cancel free of charge until close to arrival, to non-refundable, where the payment is forfeit in exchange for a lower rate. The policy is a balance between attracting bookings, which flexibility helps, and protecting revenue against last-minute cancellations and no-shows, which stricter terms help. Clear, consistent enforcement matters as much as the terms themselves. For campgrounds, cancellation rules often vary by season and unit type — flexible in the quiet months to encourage bookings, stricter over peak weekends and holidays — and they are closely tied to deposit handling and to how no-shows are charged.